Magnet holder for material handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

For use with an apparatus for handling elongated magnetic elements wherein the elements are initially arranged in a horizontal tier on spaced support members overlying a receiving device, such as for example vertically adjustable elevator platforms, and wherein the support members are retracted from beneath the elements to deposit the latter on the receiving device, the improvement which comprises a magnet holder located on one side of the receiving device, the said holder being movable between a raised inoperative position and a lowered operative position at which energization of the magnet which forms a part of the holder produces a magnetic force which causes the elongated elements to be held upwardly against the holder, thereby preventing the elements from turning or flipping about their longitudinal axes as the support members are retracted. Following retraction of the support members, the magnet is deenergized to drop the elements onto the underlying receiving device, and the holder is then returned to its raised inoperative position. The holder is also rotatable to a laterally remote position to one side of the receiving device.

United States Patent [1 Hill ' Dec. 24, 1974 MAGNET noLDER FoR MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS William J. Hill, Holden, Mass.

[73] Assignee: Mergan Construction Company,

Worcester, Mass.

221 Filed: Feb. 5, 1973 211 Appl. No.: 329,633

[75] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. 214/1 BT, 2l 4/6 FS, 294/655 [51] Int. Cl. B66c 1/06 [58] Field of Search... 2l4/l BS, 1 BT, 1 BH, 1 BV,

[56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,186,408 l/l965 Germany 214/6 FS Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Assistant Examiner-George F. Abraham Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Thompson, Birch, Gauthier & Samuels [57 ABSTRACT For use with an apparatus for handling elongated magnetic elements wherein the elements are initially arranged in a horizontal tier on spaced support members overlying a receiving device, such as for example vertically adjustable elevator platforms, and wherein the support members are retracted from beneath the elements to deposit the latter on the receiving device, the

improvement which comprises a magnet holder located' on one side of the receiving device, the said holder being movable between a raised inoperative position and a lowered operative position at which energization of the magnet which forms a part of the holder produces a magnetic force which causes the elongated elements to be held upwardly against the holder, thereby preventing the elements from turning or flipping about their longitudinal axes as the support members are retracted. Following retraction of the support members, the magnet is de-energized to drop the elements onto the underlying receiving device, and

the holder is then returned to its raised inoperative position. The holder is also rotatable to a laterally remote position to one side of the receiving device.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDUEBZMSM SHEET, 2 or 2 Figt 6'. I

MAGNET HOLDER FOR MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to the art of material handling, and is particularly concerned with a novel and improved magnet holder for use with an apparatus employed to handle elongated magnetic elements, for example steel angles, channels and the like.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a means for preventing the elongated elements from turning or flipping about their longitudinal axes as they are being stripped from support skids and allowed to drop onto an underlying receiving means. To this end, the invention provides a magnet holder at a location overlying the receiving means. The magnet holder is lowered from a raised inoperative position to a lowered operative position at which energization of the magnet which forms a part of the holder will produce a magnetic force causing the elongated elements on the support skids to be held upwardly against the holder. Thereafter, the support skids are retracted from beneath the elongated elements, withthe latter being prevented from turning or flipping by the attractive force of the magnet. Following retraction of the support skids, the magnet is de-energized, thereby allowing the elongated elements to drop under the influence of gravity, and without twisting or flipping, onto the underlying receiving means.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a magnet holder which is movable vertically between a raised inoperative position and a lowered operative position as described above, and which is further rotatable to a laterally remote position when overhead access to the underlying receiving means by other equipment is required.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of means for adjusting the vertical stroke of the magnet in order to accommodate various sizesof elements, and the provision of specially designed element contacting plates against which the elements are held by the attractive force of the magnet, the said plates being suitably notched to maintain the desired spacing and/or alignment of the elements while the support skids are being retracted from th'erebeneath.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a-view in side elevation of a magnet holder in accordance with the present invention, with the magnet shown in the raised inoperative position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. I.

tate the magnet holder;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1; I

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale of the magnet holder of the present invention, with the magnet shown in its lowered operative position; and, i

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5. I

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numbers designate like parts throughout the several views, there FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the means employed to rois shown at 10 a portion of an apparatus for handling elongated magnetic elements, typically steel angles 12. The material handling apparatus 10 does not form a apart of the present invention and hence it will not be described in any detail. The said apparatus is, however, fully described in US. Pat. application Ser. No. 164,601 filed on July 21, 1971 and assigned to the same assignee as that of the present invention and application.

The apparatus 10 includes a plurality of spaced support members 14 (hereinafter referred to as skids") onto which the. elements 12 are arranged in side-by- 'siderelation in a horizontal tier. With the elements thus prising elevator platforms 16. Once this has been accomplished, stop members 18 are raised behind the tier of elements 12. Thereafter, the skids 14 are retracted from beneath the elements 12 and the latter are thus freed to drop under the influence of gravity onto the elevator platforms 16 where they accumulate in a stack generally indicated at 20.

To the extent thus described, the apparatus 10 and its operation is already known. The present invention, which comprises a magnet holder generally indicated at 22, will now be further described.

The magnet holder 22 includes a vertically upstanding housing assembly which is made up of inner and outer tubular housing sections 24a and 24b. The inner housing section 24a is both rotatably and vertically slidably supported by means of a lower bracket assembly 26 which is in turn affixed to an adjacent stationary support structure 28. The upper end of the inner housing section 24a terminates in a cap 30 which has an integral tubular male extension 30a extending vertically therefrom. The male extension 30a is received in a tu bular female member 32 and is threadably engaged therewith as at-34. The female member 32 is rotatably supported by an upper bracket assembly 36 which is also in .turn fixed to the adjacent stationary support structure .28. The female member 32 has a vertical tubular extension 32a to which is attached a hand wheel 38. A clamp assembly 40 which includes a split collar having sections 40a and 40b, surrounds the tubular extension 32a of female member 32. The clamp assembly 40 is supported on a horizontal member 42 forming a part of the adjacent fixed support structure 28. When tightened by rotation of a handle 44, the clamp assembly locks the female member 32 and its associated hand wheel 38 against rotation.

An adjusting shaft 46 extends axially through the female member 32 and the cap 30 and its tubular male extension 30a with its lower end 46a protruding into the interior chamber 48 of the inner housing section 24a. The upper end of the adjusting shaft 46 is in threaded engagement as at 50 with the tubular extension 32a of female member 32. A lock riut 52 cooperates with the upper threaded end of the adjusting shaft piston rod 62 terminates in a head- 64 which is connected by means of a laterally extending locking bar 66 to the outer housing section 24b. Elongated vertical slots 68 in the inner housing section 24a accommodate the vertical motion of the locking bar 66 as the piston rod 62 is stroked to move the head 64 between a lowered operative position as shown by the solid lines in FIG. 5 and a raised inoperative position shown by the dot-dash lines at 64.

A key 72 on the outer housing section 24b extends into a vertical keyway 74 in the inner housing section 24a. The outer housing section 24b has attached thereto a cantilevered magnet assembly generally indicated at 76. The assembly 76 includes a support 76a which carries a magnet 78. The magnet assembly 76 further includes anelement contacting plate 80 which is notched as at 82 to accommodate the shape of the elongated elements 12 being handled.

The base member 54 at the bottom of the inner housing section 24a has a depending shaft extension 90 which is received in a commercially available rotary actuator 92, for example the Model A-4000X 90 rotary which is secured to the underside of the adjacent stationary support structure 28. The rotary actuator 92 operates through the depending shaft extension 90 on the base member 54 to rotate the inner housing section 24a, including its upper cap 30, and the cylinder 58, piston rod 62 and head 64. This rotary action is transmitted through the key 72 and keyway 74 to the locking bar 76' to the outer housing section 24b and the magnet assembly 76 attached thereto. Therotary actuator 92 operates to impart rotation through a 90 arc and as can best be seen in FIG. 2, this results in the magnet assembly 76 being moved between a position overlying and extending ina direction transverse to the elements 12 when the latter are in the delivery position overlying the elevator platforms I6, and a position to I one side of the aforesaid delivery positions as shown in dotted at 76 in FIG. 2. The magnet assembly is moved to this latter position inorder to provide overhead ac cess to the elevator platforms l6 and the stack of elements being formed thereon when other material handling equipment, for example, magnetic inverters (not shown) are used to deposit an inverted tier of elements on the stack 20.

The magnet holder 22 of the present invention operates in the following manner; after the skids 14 have been extended to position a tier of elements 12 at the delivery position overlying the elevator platforms l6, and the stop members 18 have been raised, the cylinder 58 is actuated to drop the outer housing section 24b and its cantilevered magnet assembly 76 from the raised inoperative position shown in FIG. I to the lowered operative position'shown by the solid lines in FIG.

- 5. The elements 12 are thus seated in the notches 82 of the element connecting'plate 80. The magnet 78 is energized. either during or after the magnet assembly 76 has been lowered, thereby producing a magnetic force 4 retracted from beneath the elements 12. The attractive force of the magnet 78 combined with the locating function of the notches 82 holds the elements 12 in a suspended condition and prevents any twisting or flipping of the elements as the skids are being retracted.

After the skids have been fully retracted, the magnet 78 is de-energized, thus freeing the elements 12 for deposit under the influence of gravity onto the elevator platforms 16 for accumulation in a stack 20. The cylinder 58 is then actuated to raise the outer housing section 24b and its magnet assembly 76 back to the raised inoperative position shown by the solid lines in FIG. 1 and the dotted lines in FIG. 5. Upward movement of the piston rod 62 is limited by contact of the head 64 with the bottom end 46a of adjusting shaft 46.

In the'event that smaller-sized elements of the same or different shapes are to be handled, the element contacting plates may be replaced by others having suitably shaped notches 82. To accommodate such other elements, it may also be necessary to drop the magnet assembly 76 to a lower position relative to the support skids 14. This adjustment may be accomplished by loosening clamp assembly 40 and rotating hand wheel 38 in a counterclockwise direction. This rotation will operate through the threaded engagement as at 34 between the female member 32 and the male extension 30a on cap 30 to drop both the inner and outer housing sections 24a and 24b. This vertical adjustment will also affect the rotary actuator 92, which is secured through shaft extension and base member 54 to the inner housing section 24a. Vertical adjustment of the rotary actuator 92 will be compensated for by the pivotal connection of arm 94 as at 96, and by the combined pivotal and slidable connection of the opposite end of arm 94 asat 98.

When handling smaller elements it may also be desirable to limit the stroke of piston rod 62 in order to shorten cycle time. This adjustment can be accomplished by loosening lock nut 52 and screwing adjustment shaft v46 into the tubular extension 32a of female member 32. This will drop the lower end 46a of the adjustment shaft further into the chamber 48, thereby limiting the upward movement of the head 64 on piston rod 62.

Finally, as'previously noted, the magnet assembly 76 may be rotated to the position indicated in dotted at 76' in FIG. 2 by operation of the rotary actuator 92.

While only one'magnetic holder 22 has been shown in the drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a plurality of such holders may be employed along the length of a stacking station to accommodate elongated elements 12 of different lengths.

It is my intention to cover all changes and modifications of the embodiment herein chosen for purposes of disclosure which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. For use with an apparatus for handling elongated magnetic elements wherein the elements are initially arranged in a horizontal tier on spaced support members which are then extended horizontally to carry the tier of elements to a delivery position overlying a receiving means, and wherein the support members are thereafter retracted from beneath the elements to thereby deposit the elements on the receiving means, the improvement comprising: magnet holding means adjacent to the delivery position, first operating means for vertically moving said magnet holding means between a raised inoperative position spaced vertically above a tier of elements on the spaced support members at the delivery position, and a lowered operative position at which energization of said magnet holding means will produce a magnetic force causing the elongated elements to be held upwardly against said magnet holding means, whereupon following retraction of the support members from beneath the elements held upwardly against saidmagnet holding means, the. magnetic holding means may then be de-energized to release the elements for deposit onto the underlying receiving means, and second operating means for rotating said magnet holding means in a horizontal plane'between said raised inoperative-position and a third position at which said magnet holding means is located to one side of said delivery position.

, 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by support means for said magnet holding means, said support means including vertically arranged inner and outer tubular housing sections, the said outer tubular housing section having said magnet holding means horizontally affixed thereto in cantilever fashion and being slidable axially over said inner housing section.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first operating means is comprised of a cylinder contained within and fixed in relation to said inner tubular housing section, a piston mounted for reciprocating movement in said cylinder, a piston rod connected at one end to said piston, the other end of said piston rod. terminating in a head member, elongated slot means in said inner housing section, and means extending through said slot means for connecting said head memher to said outer tubular housing section.

4. For use with an apparatusfor handling elongated magnetic elements wherein the elements are initially arranged in a horizontal tier on laterally spaced support members, which support members are extendable horizontally to carry the tier of elements to a delivery position overlying a receiving means, and wherein the support members are thereafter retractable from beneath the elements to deposit the latter on the receiving means, the improvement comprising: an inner tubular housing section supported in relation to an adjacent fixed structure in a rotatable upstanding vertical position on one side of said delivery position, an outer tubular housing section surrounding said inner housing section and being movable axially in relation thereto, a magnet holding means affixed to and extending horizontally fromsaid outer tubular housing section, a first operating means for vertically moving said outer tubular housing section in relation to said inner tubular housing section between a first position at which said magnet holding means is spaced vertically above a tier of elements on the spaced support members at the delivery position, and a second operative position at which energization of said magnet holding means will produce a magnetic force which will cause the elongated elements to be held upwardly against said magnet holding means while the support members are retracted from therebeneath, whereupon subsequent deenergization of the magnet holding means will result in the elongated elements being deposited on the underlying receiving means, and a second operating means for rotating said inner and outer housing sections to move said magnet holding means between said first position and a third position located to one side of and generally parallel to said delivery position.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further characterized by adjustment means for vertically adjusting the position of said inner tubular housing section in relation to said adjacent fixed structure.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said adjustment means is comprised of a threaded male member extending vertically from the upper end of said inner housing section, a female threaded member in threaded engagement with said male member, said female threaded member being rotatably mounted on said adjacent fixed structure, and means for rotating said female member to impart axial movement to said male member and said inner housing section relative to said adjacent fixed structure.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said first operating means is comprised of a cylinder contained within and fixed relative to said inner housing section, a piston reciprocally movable in said cylinder, a piston rod having one end connected to said piston, the other end of said piston rod terminating in a head member, slot means in said inner housing section, and means extending laterally from said head member through said slot means to said outer housing section, whereupon vertical movement of said piston within said cylinder will impart corresponding vertical movement to said outer housing section and the magnet holding means extending horizontally therefrom.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further characterized by adjustable stop means for verticalaly limiting the upward axial movement of said head member relative to said inner housing section, said stop means extending vertically through and being adjustable axially in relation to said male and female members.

9. For use with an apparatus for handling elongated magnetic elements wherein the elements are initially arranged side-by-side in a horizontal tier on laterally spaced suport members which overlie a receiving means, and wherein the support members are then retracted from beneath the elements to deposit the latter on the receiving means, the improvement comprising: a verticallyvupstanding housing assembly located to one side of said receiving means, said housing assembly including inner and outer tubular housing sections, the said outer housing section surrounding and being movable axially relative to the said inner housing section, the said inner housing section being rotatably supported by means of an adjacent fixed structure; a magnet holding means affixed to and extending horizontally from said outer housing section; a first operating means contained within said inner housing section and con nected to said outer housing section, said first operating means being operative to vertically reciprocate both said outer housing section and said magnet holding means between a raised inoperative position and a lowered operative position at which energization of said magnet holding means will produce a magnetic force causing the elongated elements on the support members to be attracted upwardly and held against said magnetholding means, thereby permitting the support members to be retracted from beneath the elements without the latter turning or twisting about their longitudinal axes whereupon a subsequent de-energization of said magnet holding means will release the elongated elements for deposit under the influence of gravity onto the receiving means; a second operating means for rotating said housing assembly relative to said stationary support structure; and an adjustment means for axially adjusting said housing structure relative to said stationary support structure. I 

1. For use with an apparatus for handling elongated magnetic elements wherein the elements are initially arranged in a horizontal tier on spaced support members which are then extended horizontally to carry the tier of elements to a delivery position overlying a receiving means, and wherein the support members are thereafter retracted from beneath the elements to thereby deposit the elements on the receiving means, the improvement comprising: magnet holding means adjacent to the delivery position, first operating means for vertically moving said magnet holding means between a raised inoperative position spaced vertically above a tier of elements on the spaced support members at the delivery position, and a lowered operative position at which energization of said magnet holding means will produce a magnetic force causing the elongated elements to be held upwardly against said magnet holding means, whereupon following retraction of the support members from beneath the elements held upwardly against said magnet holding means, the magnetic holding means may then be de-energized to release the elements for deposit onto the underlying receiving means, and second operating means for rotating said magneT holding means in a horizontal plane between said raised inoperative position and a third position at which said magnet holding means is located to one side of said delivery position.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by support means for said magnet holding means, said support means including vertically arranged inner and outer tubular housing sections, the said outer tubular housing section having said magnet holding means horizontally affixed thereto in cantilever fashion and being slidable axially over said inner housing section.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first operating means is comprised of a cylinder contained within and fixed in relation to said inner tubular housing section, a piston mounted for reciprocating movement in said cylinder, a piston rod connected at one end to said piston, the other end of said piston rod terminating in a head member, elongated slot means in said inner housing section, and means extending through said slot means for connecting said head member to said outer tubular housing section.
 4. For use with an apparatus for handling elongated magnetic elements wherein the elements are initially arranged in a horizontal tier on laterally spaced support members, which support members are extendable horizontally to carry the tier of elements to a delivery position overlying a receiving means, and wherein the support members are thereafter retractable from beneath the elements to deposit the latter on the receiving means, the improvement comprising: an inner tubular housing section supported in relation to an adjacent fixed structure in a rotatable upstanding vertical position on one side of said delivery position, an outer tubular housing section surrounding said inner housing section and being movable axially in relation thereto, a magnet holding means affixed to and extending horizontally from said outer tubular housing section, a first operating means for vertically moving said outer tubular housing section in relation to said inner tubular housing section between a first position at which said magnet holding means is spaced vertically above a tier of elements on the spaced support members at the delivery position, and a second operative position at which energization of said magnet holding means will produce a magnetic force which will cause the elongated elements to be held upwardly against said magnet holding means while the support members are retracted from therebeneath, whereupon subsequent de-energization of the magnet holding means will result in the elongated elements being deposited on the underlying receiving means, and a second operating means for rotating said inner and outer housing sections to move said magnet holding means between said first position and a third position located to one side of and generally parallel to said delivery position.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further characterized by adjustment means for vertically adjusting the position of said inner tubular housing section in relation to said adjacent fixed structure.
 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said adjustment means is comprised of a threaded male member extending vertically from the upper end of said inner housing section, a female threaded member in threaded engagement with said male member, said female threaded member being rotatably mounted on said adjacent fixed structure, and means for rotating said female member to impart axial movement to said male member and said inner housing section relative to said adjacent fixed structure.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said first operating means is comprised of a cylinder contained within and fixed relative to said inner housing section, a piston reciprocally movable in said cylinder, a piston rod having one end connected to said piston, the other end of said piston rod terminating in a head member, slot means in said inner housing section, and means extending laterally from said head member througH said slot means to said outer housing section, whereupon vertical movement of said piston within said cylinder will impart corresponding vertical movement to said outer housing section and the magnet holding means extending horizontally therefrom.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further characterized by adjustable stop means for verticalaly limiting the upward axial movement of said head member relative to said inner housing section, said stop means extending vertically through and being adjustable axially in relation to said male and female members.
 9. For use with an apparatus for handling elongated magnetic elements wherein the elements are initially arranged side-by-side in a horizontal tier on laterally spaced suport members which overlie a receiving means, and wherein the support members are then retracted from beneath the elements to deposit the latter on the receiving means, the improvement comprising: a vertically upstanding housing assembly located to one side of said receiving means, said housing assembly including inner and outer tubular housing sections, the said outer housing section surrounding and being movable axially relative to the said inner housing section, the said inner housing section being rotatably supported by means of an adjacent fixed structure; a magnet holding means affixed to and extending horizontally from said outer housing section; a first operating means contained within said inner housing section and connected to said outer housing section, said first operating means being operative to vertically reciprocate both said outer housing section and said magnet holding means between a raised inoperative position and a lowered operative position at which energization of said magnet holding means will produce a magnetic force causing the elongated elements on the support members to be attracted upwardly and held against said magnet holding means, thereby permitting the support members to be retracted from beneath the elements without the latter turning or twisting about their longitudinal axes whereupon a subsequent de-energization of said magnet holding means will release the elongated elements for deposit under the influence of gravity onto the receiving means; a second operating means for rotating said housing assembly relative to said stationary support structure; and an adjustment means for axially adjusting said housing structure relative to said stationary support structure. 